Hazardous Smoke Blankets Inland Northwest; Spokane Under Air Quality Emergency Through Wednesday

Thick smoke from the wave of wildfires burning across Oregon and Washington has dramatically degraded air quality across the Inland Northwest, with the Spokane region under a hazardous air quality emergency that is expected to persist through at least Wednesday morning, July 22.

Spokane Under Hazardous Alert

The Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency and the Washington Department of Ecology issued a hazardous air quality alert around noon on Monday, July 20, warning residents that conditions would remain dangerous through 9:00 a.m. Wednesday. The alert accompanies a heat advisory in the same period, creating a compounding health threat for vulnerable populations.

Air Quality Index (AQI) readings in the Spokane area have been fluctuating between the Unhealthy (151–200, red) and Hazardous (301+, purple) categories, driven primarily by elevated fine particulate matter (PM2.5) from wildfire smoke. The Lyons Ferry Fire in southeastern Washington has been identified as a significant contributor to smoke affecting the Spokane corridor.

Smoke Across the Region

Spokane is not alone. Smoke from the Rowe Creek Complex, Hay Creek Complex, and other large Oregon fires is mixing into the broader regional airshed, affecting communities across eastern Oregon, eastern Washington, and parts of northern Idaho. Smoke columns from fires burning in central Oregon’s canyon country are visible hundreds of miles away.

The Oregon Smoke Information blog and IQAir monitoring data show unhealthy to very unhealthy air quality across a wide swath of north-central and eastern Oregon, particularly in areas downwind of the Rowe Creek and Hay Creek complexes in Wheeler, Wasco, and Jefferson counties.

Health Guidance

Health officials across the region are urging residents — particularly those in sensitive groups — to take protective measures:

Stay indoors with windows and doors closed when AQI is in the Unhealthy or higher range
Run air purifiers with HEPA filters to reduce indoor PM2.5 levels
Avoid strenuous outdoor activity — exercise increases the amount of smoke particles inhaled
Wear an N95 or P100 respirator mask if you must be outside; cloth masks and surgical masks provide minimal protection from wildfire smoke
Keep pets indoors and limit their time outside
Check on neighbors who are elderly, have respiratory or heart conditions, or lack access to air conditioning

Who Is Most at Risk

Fine particulate matter from wildfire smoke penetrates deep into the lungs and can enter the bloodstream. Those most at risk include:

Older adults (65+)
Children and infants
People with asthma, COPD, or other respiratory conditions
People with heart disease or diabetes
Pregnant women
Anyone who works outdoors

When Will It Clear?

Significant air quality improvement is unlikely until fire behavior moderates or wind patterns shift. With Red Flag Warnings extending through Wednesday and more dry thunderstorms possible later in the week, forecasters do not see a major washout event that would scrub the atmosphere in the near term. Residents should plan for continued smoke impacts through at least the end of the week.